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Bebop Spoken There

Trevor Mires: ''My mum is a Dean Martin fan: I'm not, so I would grab my skateboard and get out of the house whenever I heard "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime." ". (Jazzwise, April 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17957 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 278 of them this year alone and, so far, 34 this month (April 14).

From This Moment On ...

April 2025.

Wed 16: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 16: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 16: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. CANCELLED!

Thu 17: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Only Six Standards.
Thu 17: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 18: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 18: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 1:00-2:45pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Fri 18: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Seaburn. 3:30-5:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.

Fri 18: Alexia Gardner @ Fika Gallery, Oldgate, Morpeth NE61 1LT. 7:00pm. Trio (Gardner, Alan Law, Jude Murphy).RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13

Fri 18: Sarah Jane Morris & Tony Remy: The Sisterhood @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00.

Sat 19: Jason Isaacs @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 1:00-3:00pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Sat 19: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 19: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 20: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 20: Salty Dog @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 20: Spilt Milk @ STACK, Exchange Sq., Middlesbrough. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 20: Tweed River Jazz Band @ The Barrels Ale House, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 7:00pm. Free.
Sun 20: C.A.L.I.E @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 21: Newcastle Record Fair @ Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle. 10:00am. Going in search of the Buddy Bolden cylinder…
Mon 21: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 22: Abbie Finn Trio @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. Coquetdale Jazz.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Album review: The Clark Tracey Quintet - Introducing Emily Masser

Clark Tracey (drums, backing vocals); Emily Masser (vocals); Alex Clarke (tenor/alto sax, flute); Graham Harvey (piano, Rhodes); James Owston (bass).

A Bitta Bittadose: Bobby Watson's composition is introduced by a few bars from Owston's bass which, I was lying in bed at the time, threatened to fast forward me to the Land of Nod. This is no criticism of James but it was so dreamily melodic I was moving into a world where happy little bluebirds sing then - KAPOW! Masser and Clarke come in all guns blazing! Masser scatting like as though she'd invented the genre and Clarke in unison before blowing tenor like well, er, like Alex Clarke and that's a whole lot of tenor playing!

A Sleepin' Bee: Begins slowly and gently before Masser ups the tempo and Clarke blows more booting tenor. Harvey keeps the momentum going with Tracey ensuring it doesn't falter, sharing some drum/tenor exchanges before Masser takes it out. 

Nothing Like You: Just as we used to imagine (probably would still do if we could spell the names) our dream football team this song brings together a dream songwriting team - Bob Dorough and Fran Landesman. I don't know how many songs they collaborated on but even if it was only this one it should be in every jazz singer's repertoire. Of course they'd have to be something special to pull it off. Masser pulls it off. More brilliant tenor by Ms Clarke. You wouldn't want to meet Alex on a dark night at a jam session. 

The Man I Love: Think Annie Ross's Twisted. Masser digs a groove on the same side of the street. Tracey kicks seven shades out of the kit, Harvey makes a brief reference to the melody before Emily returns. At this stage of the album I feel I know them so well I can no longer refer to them other than by their first names!

Passarim: A Jobim number that has Clark chipping in with some backing vocals. Alex blows flute but, compared to the rest, and at the highest level, doesn't quite do it for me.

So Near so Far: Vocal, alto in support, piano solo, more alto, this album just gets better and better. Bass and drums exchange fours before Emily and Alex take it abruptly out. The song came from the pens of Tony Crombie and Benny Green.

Then I'll be Tired of You: Ballad singing at its finest. Ballad tenor playing at its finest. Beautiful - no other word for it.

Suddenly Last Tuesday: One of Jimmy Deuchar's contributions to the Great British Bebop Book. It put the composer, as well as Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes, through their paces back in the day and here it's played even faster and I had to check that my hi-fi (not be confused with wi-fi) hadn't gone into freefall - nobody could scat at this speed! Alex slows it down only slightly although if she'd been driving at this speed on the motorway she'd have been booked. Incredible!

An amazing album. Release date is March 15 but, if you want to buy the album and have it signed by all concerned just head to the Globe in Newcastle where, as part of the Jazz Coop's tenth anniversary celebrations, the band will be playing on April 30.Trust me, this will be one of those gigs you'll tell your grandchildren about! Lance

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